VIDAS®C. difficile GDH is a qualitative test that detects the C. difficile antigen, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), in stool specimens to screen patients suspected of having a C. difficile infection. It is used in conjunction with VIDAS®C. difficile Toxin A & B as part of a two-step algorithm. Both tests are based on the ELFA (Enzyme-Linked Fluorescent Assay) technique.

The VIDAS®C. difficile panel will rapidly provide the information needed to help you identify and contain the spread of the infection¹. This will help decrease patient morbidity and mortality rates, and reduce the economic and human burden of C. difficile on hospitals and healthcare systems².

Testing strategies

According to the new guidelines*, positive GDH results should be tested for C. difficile toxins A & B to confirm the presence of a C difficile infection.

* See RESOURCES TAB

Reliability

The VIDAS®C. difficile panel will help you improve patient management :

Guidelines

New C. difficile testing algorithm guidelines recommend the use of a two-step protocol starting with a GDH enzyme immunoassay (EIA) followed by a sensitive toxin EIA to confirm positive results. A culture test then establishes sensitivity for results similar to the “gold standard” culture + toxin test.

The importance of quick C. Difficile testing

Here are just a few of the reasons why it’s important to be able to rapidly test for C. difficile:

Clostridium difficile causes about 15-25% of antibiotic-associated cases of diarrhea1

Prevalence: 13.1/1000 patients in the US2

Overall incidence is on the rise: In Saxony, Germany, the incidence of CDI increased from 1.7 to 3.8 cases per 100,000 people in 2002 to 14.8 cases per 100,000 people in 20063 becoming higher than MRSA

Elderly and immunocompromized patients are especially at risk of contracting C. difficile and becoming severely ill1